The Transfer Tavern

Some Rangers fans are so wrong: Signing Darren Bent could prove to be a masterstroke

Rangers supporters have been pretty downbeat in recent times after seeing their team suffer their first defeat under Steven Gerrard just prior to the current two-week international break.

The Gers had made a very encouraging start to life under the 38-year-old in qualifying for the group stages of the Europa League and embarking on an unbeaten start to the domestic campaign, only for bitter rivals Celtic to somewhat spoil the party. An Olivier Ntcham strike was enough to seal a deserved 1-0 victory for the Bhoys at Parkhead last time out to condemn the Light Blues to their first loss of the campaign, which saw them fall four points behind Brendan Rodgers’ side at this very early stage of the Scottish Premiership season.

And while the £900,000-rated forward (as per Transfermarkt) hasn’t been at his best for some time now, those Rangers fans are wrong to suggest that he would not benefit the Gers side – in fact, his arrival could prove to be a masterstroke.

Ultimately, the 34-year-old has struggled to produce his best form in recent times, not least last season at Championship side Burton Albion in which he netted just twice in 15 appearances for the Brewers, who eventually lost their second tier status.

And while that disappointment is sure to be fresh in the minds of Rangers supporters, they mustn’t forget that it was only a few years ago in which Bent was banging in the goals for Derby County in the Championship, scoring ten times in just 15 games in the 2014/15 season, before reaching double figures again two seasons later.

Add in his incredible goal-scoring record at Premier League level, with the former England international part of an elite club to have netted in excess of 100 times in the English top-flight, and the 34-year-old could prove to be a huge asset to Gerrard’s side – one does not lose that goal-scoring touch.

And it’s not just on the pitch in which Bent could benefit Rangers, but it’s off the field as well given the striker has 277 Premier League appearances, 138 Championship games, and 12 England caps worth of experience to call upon from his career to date – that could be invaluable in a Rangers team seeking to get back to the top of Scottish football.

Yes, at the age of 34, Bent’s best football is likely to be behind him, but given his prolific goal-scoring form throughout his career, alongside the vast amounts of experience he would bring to Gerrard’s squad, adding the striker to the Gers squad could prove to be a transfer masterstroke by the Rangers hierarchy, as were he to re-discover even some of his best form, he will score plenty of goals at Scottish Premiership level.